title: Aneuploidy in neuroblastoma tumors is not associated with inactivating point mutations in the STAG2 gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chromosomal instability is a hallmark of human cancer caused by errors in mitotic control and chromosome segregation. STAG2 encodes a subunit of the cohesion complex that participates in mitotic chromatid separation and was recently found to show low expression and inactivating mutations in Ewing's sarcoma, melanoma and glioblastoma.In the childhood tumor neuroblastoma (NB) segmental chromosomal alterations are associated with poor prognosis whereas tumors displaying whole chromosome gains and losses have a much better prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  As the genetic contribution to aneuploidy is unknown in NB, we investigated the presence of STAG2 mutations through sequence analysis of all 33 coding exons in 37 primary NB tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As no STAG2 mutation was detected in this study, we conclude that inactivating mutation of STAG2 is not likely causative to neuroblastoma aneuploidy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden. tommy.martinsson@gu.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djos
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fransson
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kogner
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martinsson
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D009423:Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017354:Point Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D000097722:Cohesins
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C508565:STAG2 protein, human; D000097722:Cohesins